Improvement in preventing hydrants from freezing



B. KENT.

PREVENTING HYDRANTS FROM FREEZING.

No.171,228. Patented Dec. 21,1875.

Fig. 2

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRAZILLA KENT, oEBINGEAMToN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PREVENT ING HYDRANTS FROM FREEZING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 1715228, datedDecember 21, 1875; application filed March 1, 1,875.

sides and at the top, and extends below the, surface of the ground,where it is connected with a warm-air pit, in such manner that there maybe a circulation of air produced by the temperature of the air or theground which surrounds the upper portion of the inclosing shell fallingbelow the temperature of the air in the bottom of the warm-air pit.

Figure l in the accompaying drawingsis a viewof a hydrant embodying myinvention, showing the excavation under the supplementary pipe. Fig. 2is a transverse section of the same, showing the water-pipe incased inthe supplementary tube and their connections. l

A is the shell of the hydrant, which is similar in form to others now inuse, and constitutes a casing for the elevated end of the water-pipe B.The top of the shell A has a screw-cap, a, which has a'hole in the topfor the stem of the discharge-vatveC to workin.

The projecting end of this stem is squared for the purpose of operatingthe valve with the ordinary wrench. The seat of the valve (3 is in thelower end of the upright section of the water-pipe B, and; the two partsare connected in the usual manner, so that the dischargevalve 0 may bereadily removed forexamination or repairs without disturbing the shellA. Near the upper end of the vertical section'ot' the pipe B there is ascrew opening for the spout D, which is'entered through an orifice inthe shell A. Just above the valveU there is a drip-hole, b, for thedischarge of the standing water above the valve. E is the supplementarypipe, which incases the water-pipe B from the hydrant to the main. Thispipe is of sufficient size to leavea chamber, 0, around the pipe B, andhas an opening, (1, from the under side of the pipe into the chamber 61,for the discharge of the drip water, and the reception of warm air fromthe ground, when the temperature is low "above the surface. For thispurpose an excavation is made at a suitable point under thesupplementary pipe E, as shown by Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings.

1 Should the water in the pipe B freeze from undue exposure to frost, itmay. be readily thawed out by simply removing the cap a and. introducingthrough the shell A hot water or steam into the chamber 0 in thesupplementary pipe E, the condensed steam and Water passingoft throughthe opening 01 into the excavation below.

From an examination of the drawings, it will be readily seen thatwhenever the temperature of any portion of the hydrant-pipe or itsinclosing-shell becomes reduced to such an extent that the air withinthe shell is rendered colder than. theair in the warm-air pit or chamber01, such cold air will pass downward through the aperture a, the warmair from the chamber rising and taking its place. When such cold airreaches chamber (1 it will be warmed by its contact with the walls ofthe chamber, and will, in turn, be displaced by air which has beencooled by contact with the water-pipe or the shell A. Thus a continuousascending current of warm air will be maintained, there being no outletat the upper part of shell A, and the hydrant will be kept fromfreezing.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to's'cure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the inclosing-shell A, which is closed at theupper end and is provided with an opening, d, of the warm -air chamberd, substantially as set forth.

BRAZILLA KENT. Witnesses: Y

' PERRY P. ROGERS,

J OHN P. WORTHING.

